Lions win one but may lose players through injuries and other issues

His tour likely over due to ligament damage in his left ankle, Lions prop Cian Healy has also been cited for allegedly biting an opponent in the 69-17 victory over Western Force.

Cian Healy of the Lions is treated for a leg injury that may end his tour. Healy is also facing a disciplinary issue for allegedly biting a Western Force player.
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PERTH // The British & Irish Lions prop Cian Healy has been cited for allegedly biting an opponent during Wednesday's game against Western Force.

Healy is alleged to have committed the offence on scrum-half Brett Sheehan during the lions' 69-17 victory at Patersons Stadium, the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) announced last night.

Ireland and Leinster forward Healy was later carried off on a stretcher after suffering an ankle injury that is threatening his future participation on the tour.

The ARU said in a statement: "British and Irish Lions prop, Cian Healy, has been cited for acts contrary to good sportsmanship against Emirates Western Force scrum-half, Brett Sheehan, in the opening match of the DHL Australia 2013 Lions Tour.

"Healy has been cited under Law 10.4.m Acts contrary to good sportsmanship, a player may not bite an opponent.

"The incident occurred in the 17th minute. Healy will now appear at a judicial hearing tomorrow, Thursday June 6, at the Sofitel Hotel in Brisbane."

Match citing officer, South African Freek Burger, asked Sheehan to provide him with a statement after he made a biting allegation to referee Glen Jackson during the game.

The game was held up while television match official Glenn Newman looked at replays from different angles of any alleged offence, but nothing materialised from that footage.

Healy, who had been widely tipped to win a Lions Test place against Australia later this month, could face a lengthy ban if found guilty.

But he is also battling to overcome a suspected ankle ligament injury, the full extent of which the Lions management hope to know within 24 hours.

The Lions leave Perth for Brisbane today, where they face Queensland Reds on Saturday and Lions head coach Warren Gatland said he will hold fire on flying out a replacement until the extent of Healy's injury has been determined.

If Healy has to be replaced then the choice would appear to lie between England's Alex Corbisiero, who is currently on tour in Argentina, Scotland's Ryan Grant and Welshman Paul James.

Asked about the alleged biting after the game, Gatland told reporters: "I know as much as you know. I think the citing guy has had a look at it and he can't see anything."

Force head coach Michael Foley refused to elaborate on it at his post-match news conference, saying only: "It was dealt with by the referee at the time."

The post-match business took some gloss of an efficient Lions display that saw them score nine tries and fullback Leigh Halfpenny deliver a goal-kicking masterclass by scoring 24 points from nine conversions and two penalties.

Brian O'Driscoll claimed two touchdowns and he was followed over the Force line by Jonathan Sexton, Tommy Bowe, Jamie Heaslip, Tom Croft, Mako Vunipola, Owen Farrell and Geoff Parling.

In two games so far on tour against the Barbarians and Force, the Lions have scored 128 points and 17 tries.

Foley, who has a Super Rugby game to prepare his players for this weekend against NSW Waratahs, was complimentary towards the Lions.

"We played against a Test-match standard team," he said. "They have got a lot of big powerful men, particularly [Manu] Tuilagi and [George] North. Once they get a line-break it is very hard to stop them."

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